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Inside South Florida’s Miramar Cultural Center, a sudden collective intake of breath rippled through the sold-out crowd of reggae fans on the opening night of Spragga Benz’s ‘Journey to Kingston’ birthday concert series. As three attendees lifted a visibly stunned Stacey Mirander onto the venue’s stage, even the most seasoned concertgoers in the audience had little idea they were about to witness a landmark moment in the young artist’s burgeoning career.

Mirander was quickly greeted by two familiar figures: Miramar City Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers and the event’s honoree, legendary reggae-dancehall performer Spragga Benz, confirming the surprise appearance was carefully planned months in advance. As anticipation swelled across the auditorium, the rising singer waited patiently for opening act Laa Lee to wrap his set before stepping to the center of the stage to claim her microphone.

In a bold, memorable choice, Mirander launched into her original composition *Oh Mother Earth* completely a cappella, no instrumental backing to soften her first big public performance. Her raw, clear vocals cut through the hush of the room immediately, holding every audience member’s attention and earning an early wave of enthusiastic cheers. Within moments, the event’s core backing group, the Ruff Kut Band, joined in, followed by a team of background vocalists, expanding the intimate solo opening into a full, sweeping reggae production that had the entire crowd swaying along to the rhythm.

For Mirander, this unplanned-by-the-audience but long-awaited set marked the biggest milestone of her young career: it was the first time she had ever performed live alongside a full band in front of a ticketed audience. Speaking after the performance, the singer described the moment as a years-in-the-making dream come to life. “It was a moment I had been waiting for, a dream unfolding in real time, and I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity,” she said. “Happy birthday to Spragga Benz for sharing such a special moment with so many people on a day meant to celebrate him.”

Only a few days prior, Mirander had completed her very first full-band rehearsal for the performance, and she noted that the energy of the live crowd far exceeded any expectation she held. “I could feel the energy in the room and the spirit of reggae music flowing through me,” she explained. The stripped-back, emotion-driven track *Oh Mother Earth* will serve as a centerpiece of her upcoming debut studio album, a project she says she hopes will introduce her unique take on reggae to a global fanbase.

The opening night of the ‘Journey to Kingston’ series drew one of the most stacked lineups of reggae and dancehall talent assembled in South Florida this year. Alongside Spragga Benz and surprise guest Mirander, the bill featured iconic and rising performers including Wayne Wonder, Agent Sasco, Everton Blender, Ky-Mani Marley, Yohan Marley, Bugle and Lici Soul. To add a unique layer to the celebration, performers were backed by not only the Ruff Kut Band but also the Florida Memorial University Orchestra, blending classic reggae grooves with lush, sweeping orchestral arrangements that reimagined classic tracks for the audience.

As the first stop on a multi-city tour, the Florida opening set the tone for a series designed to celebrate reggae’s enduring cultural impact across the world. After the Florida launch, the ‘Journey to Kingston’ series will travel next to Philadelphia for a second show, before wrapping with a grand final performance in the genre’s birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica, where artists and fans from across the globe will gather to honor the legacy and ongoing evolution of reggae music.

For reggae artists based in the Jamaican diaspora, keeping cultural connection alive while carving out a global career often demands equal parts passion and persistence. For Canada-based reggae performer Knotty Royal, that dedication has translated into his vibrant new single *Doctor Bird*, a love letter to Jamaica’s centuries-long history, one-of-a-kind culture, and stunning natural landscapes, built atop the iconic, fan-favorite Hill and Gully Riddim.

The creative seed for the track was planted more than a decade ago, during a 2010 trip to Jamaica. While visiting the island, a family member shared long-held stories of Christopher Columbus’s first arrival on Jamaican shores, a narrative that stuck with Knotty Royal for years. The concept finally crystallized when he encountered the Hill and Gully Riddim, and the long-stored story merged seamlessly with the rhythm to form the backbone of the new track. “That story stuck to me like cedar stain,” Knotty Royal shared in a recent interview. “When I heard the riddim, the story and the music came together in my mind.”

Unlike many contemporary reggae tracks that lean into commercial trends, *Doctor Bird* centers on celebrating Jamaica’s global influence while shining a light on the island’s unrivaled natural scenery and deep cultural legacy. Knotty Royal set out to reframe popular global perceptions of the nation, emphasizing its role as a source of enduring positive energy for audiences worldwide. “I want listeners to understand that Jamaica is a positive force in the world,” he explained. “People look to us for positive vibes, and our landscape and culture are beautiful and incomparable.”

What drew the artist to the Hill and Gully Riddim in particular was its uncompromising authenticity. The rhythm’s rooted, homegrown sound perfectly embodies Jamaica’s national motto “Out of Many, One People,” a unifying identity that resonated deeply with Knotty Royal’s own connection to the island. Currently, the artist holds out hope that renowned Jamaican producer Stephen McGregor, widely known by his stage name Di Genius, will offer an official endorsement of the track, a move that could amplify its reach exponentially. For Knotty Royal, the intersection of artistic expression and industry strategy is key to creating lasting impact: “Music is both entertainment and business. When those two things come together, great things can happen,” he noted.

Since its launch, *Doctor Bird* has earned overwhelmingly positive feedback from reggae fans around the world. Many listeners have gone so far as to suggest the track enter the 2026 Jamaica Festival Song Competition, a testament to its resonance with audiences who value authentic Jamaican cultural expression. Even based thousands of miles away in Canada, Knotty Royal has never let his connection to Jamaica fade. He stays actively engaged with the local music scene by tuning into Jamaican radio stations regularly, keeping up with new releases and industry shifts to stay rooted in the culture that inspires his work.

Knotty Royal’s path as a reggae artist has been shaped by lifelong passions for reading, faith, and music from his earliest years. Building a career in the reggae industry from outside Jamaica comes with unique hurdles, but the artist maintains that Jamaica remains the ultimate test of an artist’s credibility, for both reggae and dancehall creators alike. “If you buss in Jamaica, you buss in the world,” he affirmed.

He also argues that the rising popularity of the Hill and Gully movement signals a broader global shift: audiences are increasingly seeking out authentic Jamaican culture and uplifting, positive music, moving away from overly polished, commercialized sounds. Looking beyond his latest release, Knotty Royal has a full slate of new projects in the works, including upcoming singles *Rip & Run Off*, *Learn Time*, *Motivation*, and *Run*. He is also continuing to promote *Holy Mountain*, his debut full-length album released in 2024.

Moving forward, the artist’s goals are clear: he aims to secure wider radio play for his work, grow his international fanbase, and keep creating music that weaves together his faith, personal background, and core Jamaican identity. *Doctor Bird* is available for streaming now on all major platforms, including YouTube and Spotify.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — One year after its wildly successful first launch, one of Jamaica’s most authentic celebrations of homegrown music and nightlife culture is gearing up for its second act. Guinness Pull Up, the brand-backed event centered on the beloved Jamaican music tradition of the crowd-requested rewind, is scheduled to take over Kingston’s Stadium East Car Park on June 20, promising attendees an unforgettable night of dancehall rhythms, world-class selectors, and immersive live entertainment.

First launched in 2025, the event was crafted from the ground up to honor a core pillar of Jamaican sound system culture: that electric, shared moment when a track strikes such a powerful chord with the crowd that fans demand it be played again immediately. Organisers note that this year’s iteration will double down on what made the debut a hit, leaning fully into the raw, unfiltered energy of Jamaican nightlife through live performances, curated selector sets, and one-of-a-kind interactive experiences.

Headlining this year’s entertainment lineup are two of dancehall’s biggest current stars, Kraff Gad and Rajah Wild. The pair will top a bill built specifically to showcase the evolving sounds and cultural identity that continue to define Jamaica’s local entertainment scene, drawing fans from across the island and beyond to the capital’s iconic event space.

For Nadine Hylton, Guinness Brand Manager, the return of Guinness Pull Up is more than just an annual event—it is a reflection of the brand’s longstanding commitment to creating cultural experiences that strike a chord with Jamaican consumers.

“Guinness Pull Up was created to celebrate the sound, energy and confidence of Jamaican nightlife,” Hylton explained in an interview ahead of the event.

“The first staging showed us that consumers wanted an experience that felt real to them, rooted in the music they love, the selectors who move them and the culture they live in every day. This year, we are building on that momentum with Kraff Gad and Rajah Wild, two artistes who represent the boldness, edge and originality that Guinness continues to champion.”

Beyond the two headline performers, the event will feature a stacked roster of top-tier local selectors, including Fyahman, Code Specs, Johnny Kool, Little Richie, Javy Supreme, DJ Dedical, Badda Bling, Niney Badness and DJ Haley. Their carefully curated sets will be the driving force behind the interactive, crowd-centric atmosphere that is at the heart of the Pull Up concept.

“Selectors are essential to the Pull Up experience because they understand how to read a crowd, build anticipation and create those moments that people remember long after the night ends,” Hylton added. “This platform is about creating a full cultural experience where the music, the people and the brand come together. As we return for year two, our focus is on giving patrons an experience that reflects the confidence of the Guinness consumer and the unmatched energy of Jamaican entertainment.”

True to the model that made the first event accessible to fans, entry to 2026’s Guinness Pull Up will once again be tied to the purchase of a Guinness six-pack, giving consumers straightforward, direct access to the celebration of Jamaican music culture.